13 replies to this topic

[ekark09]

All,

I'm starting to think about purchasing a ring. I just need some guidance and help. I have a basic knowledge of the process and the forums and information here are great and have helped a lot but now I need some opinions from you.

Ring size : 4.5 (what size ring will look good on the finger?)

Carat: I'm looking at rings between 1 and 2 carats.

Cut: I like the Princess and she likes the Cushion (I understand cut is most important so I want an excellent cut)

Color: Originally I was looking at D/E, but after reading this forum I decided that I'm comfortable with F/G/H (most likely an F/G)

Clarity - VVS2-VS2 (I would even go to VS1

So where will I get my biggest bang for the buck between Carat/Cut? Opinions on Princess vs. Cushion? Help with the carat size in terms of the finger size. I don't want the ring to look ridiculous (too small or too big).

I think I like either a Halo style ring or an antique setting with a channel setting. Any ideas for the ring factoring the cut and size of the diamond?

Last thing, I'd like to keep the total package under $12,000.

Have at it and any and all help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Edit: Also would like GIA certified.

Edited by ekark09, 15 November 2010 - 02:25 PM.

[davidelevi]

First of all, forget about the diamond, and find yourself a dealer (or two) that you want to work with. Princesses and cushions must be seen to be assessed - with rounds you may decrease your risk by careful selection of proportions on the report, but princesses and cushions have many variants in faceting style that make any "rules" around simple proportions totally useless.

Look around forums and feedback websites (like iVouch) for dealers that get good feedback, then give a call to half a dozen of them; don't be too specific about what you want, and focus on finding out whether you would enjoy working with them.

Once you have a dealer selected, then you can set them off on chasing stones... some they may have in stock, and some they may get from their suppliers. Don't be afraid to ask.

Finally, one remark on size: 4.5 is a pretty slim finger. Avoid elaborate and highly decorated settings, and stick to something with simple lines; as to weight - what do your (her) friends wear? In some places, 1.00 ct is considered a pretty big rock. In others it doesn't even begin to count. And do bear in mind that in general a princess cut will be visually smaller than a cushion for the same weight.

[ekark09]

David,

Thanks for the response. I will take your advice and begin calling some of the local dealers. I was hoping it was going to be a little easier by shopping online, but I can appreciate the princess and cushion shapes need to be seen in person to get a feel for them.

I don't really know what her friends wear and I don't really care. I'm not trying to keep up with the Jones'. I just want something that she will love and I feel like I got a good deal on. Honestly, if it were up to me I wouldn't get a ring or anything too crazy, but I know she has certain expectations which fall in the parameters from my original posting. If it were up to me I would rather finish off my basement. Use the money for another rental property or invest in some other way.

Thanks again for the advice any any additional information would be greatly appreciated from you or any other posters.

[Britani17]

Hi Ekark09!

Here are a few ring pictures of beautiful cushion cut rings and princess cut rings to give you some ideas on mountings. Also, I listed a few diamond options in your specifications. Some of the rings I took on my finger, which is a size 7.25, to give you an idea on size. They didn't exactly fit me, but you get the idea.

http://www.dbof.com/...-1-52-ct-h-vs1/

http://www.dbof.com/...-1-20-ct-d-vs1/



I think staying in the F,G, H color and in the VS1 to VS2 will give you the biggest bang for your buck without sacrificing quality. Princess cut and cushion cut are definitely different looking and I would make sure to see the diamond either in photos or in person. Also, if she likes the cushions and she expressed that then maybe you should go with cushion. You want to make her happy.

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[davidelevi]

ekark09, on 16 November 2010 - 05:09 AM, said:

[snip]

I don't really know what her friends wear and I don't really care. I'm not trying to keep up with the Jones'.[snip]

I appreciate that (and your ideas for how to use the money). What I'm trying to say is that between a 0.90 and a 2.01 there is a factor of 6, not 2, on the price, and although you may not care too much about comparisons, she will...

A thought on selecting a reasonable looking princess cut: if you go for AGS-graded stones, they will have a reliable cut grade. The issue is that there aren't that many on the market, so your choice will be more limited.

[sijubabe]

There is much to consider when purchasing a diamond – especially diamond engagement rings! The tradition of presenting a woman with a diamond engagement ring when proposing began in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy – and in most cases, the woman you plan to propose to will expect a ring to accompany that proposal!

First, determine how much ring you can afford. Most people use the 'two months salary" rule. This means that the ring should cost the equivalent of two months of your current salary. Because you have other bills to pay, saving up this amount of money may take quite a bit of time. You should consider financing. Simply go to the jeweler of your choice and tell them that you plan to buy an engagement ring, and that financing will be necessary. Go ahead and get the credit check out of the way, find out what your payments will be, and how much of a down payment is required.

Now, have your mother, sister, or your girlfriends best friend take your girlfriend shopping, and make sure that they gaze at the engagement rings to get an idea of what she might like. Make sure that the jewelry store you buy the ring from will allow you to return the ring, if that is required, or allow your girlfriend to exchange it for another if she isn't happy with it!

www.whitediamondsperfume.com

ekark09, on 15 November 2010 - 02:20 PM, said:

All,

I'm starting to think about purchasing a ring. I just need some guidance and help. I have a basic knowledge of the process and the forums and information here are great and have helped a lot but now I need some opinions from you.

Ring size : 4.5 (what size ring will look good on the finger?)

Carat: I'm looking at rings between 1 and 2 carats.

Cut: I like the Princess and she likes the Cushion (I understand cut is most important so I want an excellent cut)

Color: Originally I was looking at D/E, but after reading this forum I decided that I'm comfortable with F/G/H (most likely an F/G)

Clarity - VVS2-VS2 (I would even go to VS1

So where will I get my biggest bang for the buck between Carat/Cut? Opinions on Princess vs. Cushion? Help with the carat size in terms of the finger size. I don't want the ring to look ridiculous (too small or too big).

I think I like either a Halo style ring or an antique setting with a channel setting. Any ideas for the ring factoring the cut and size of the diamond?

Last thing, I'd like to keep the total package under $12,000.

Have at it and any and all help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Edit: Also would like GIA certified.

[MariaA]

If you decide in the end to go for a cushion cut diamond,
I found a diamond cutter that offered me GIA certified stones cut directly from rough
at as much as 40% off wholesale (Rapaport). I was of course apprehensive at first,
but after comparing similar GIA graded stones even on the largest websites such as
Blue Nile and James Allen, I found the savings to be worth the extra few minutes of research.
Like most things, and as said here in a previous post,
finding a dealer you can trust and get the best deal from at the same time,
is the most important step. So, after checking out the company (Shiree Odiz),
I went ahead with the purchase and was extremely happy… definitely got what I was looking for.
If you need a hand with this from someone who has gone through it recently, I would happily lend a hand.[url="http://www.shireeodiz.com/Cushion-Cut-Engagement-Rings"][/url]

Edited by MariaA, 17 November 2010 - 07:02 AM.

[jan]

ekark09, on 15 November 2010 - 02:20 PM, said:

All,

I'm starting to think about purchasing a ring. I just need some guidance and help. I have a basic knowledge of the process and the forums and information here are great and have helped a lot but now I need some opinions from you.

Ring size : 4.5 (what size ring will look good on the finger?)

Carat: I'm looking at rings between 1 and 2 carats.

Cut: I like the Princess and she likes the Cushion (I understand cut is most important so I want an excellent cut)

Color: Originally I was looking at D/E, but after reading this forum I decided that I'm comfortable with F/G/H (most likely an F/G)

Clarity - VVS2-VS2 (I would even go to VS1

So where will I get my biggest bang for the buck between Carat/Cut? Opinions on Princess vs. Cushion? Help with the carat size in terms of the finger size. I don't want the ring to look ridiculous (too small or too big).

I think I like either a Halo style ring or an antique setting with a channel setting. Any ideas for the ring factoring the cut and size of the diamond?

Last thing, I'd like to keep the total package under $12,000.

Have at it and any and all help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Edit: Also would like GIA certified.

You can definitely buy a cushion or princess cut online if you work with a vendor that views the stones and can take photos and video's of the diamonds as well as check the light performance on the stone.

Here is a chunky cushion that we found for one of our clients recently that is not local to us.

Check out some of the Tacori settings as well, they look great with cushion cut diamonds.





This diamond got 3 very highs on light performance as well.

Edited by jan, 17 November 2010 - 08:22 AM.

[davidelevi]

sijubabe, on 17 November 2010 - 04:14 AM, said:

[snip]
First, determine how much ring you can afford. Most people use the 'two months salary" rule. This means that the ring should cost the equivalent of two months of your current salary. Because you have other bills to pay, saving up this amount of money may take quite a bit of time. You should consider financing. Simply go to the jeweler of your choice and tell them that you plan to buy an engagement ring, and that financing will be necessary. Go ahead and get the credit check out of the way, find out what your payments will be, and how much of a down payment is required.
[snip]

I don't understand how any of your reply is in any way relevant to the questions of the OP, but this paragraph, apart from being irrelevant, is frankly poor advice.

[davidelevi]

You don't say?!

[LaurieH]

davidelevi, on 17 February 2011 - 12:02 AM, said:

You don't say?!

To the other poster--please check the rules as regards advertising, including links like that.

[matekat]

These days mostly people use platinum ring because this is not so expensive and look nice but i suggest you the [spam] is the best little bit expensive then the platinum ring but look very nice and i think best thing for this special occasion. i said original is always original and at the special moments of life must use good thing so i prefer the diamond ring.

[davidelevi]

Uh? Other than being spam, what does this mean?

[LaurieH]

Yeah... I kinda wondered if this weren't someone trying to gain some cred before spamming. Please refer to the rules of the forum as pertains to advertising and refrain from doing this in the future or you will have posting priviledges restricted.